After finishing sixth in state last year, the men’s varsity tennis team has had a strong start, according to head coach Larry Faulkner, amassing an overall 4-0 record.

This year’s team has a lot of experience and dedication, according to Faulkner.

“[We’ve] got a whole team of [good players],” Faulkner said. “It takes a whole team to be successful.”

Seniors Michael Sellitto, Michael Levin and Luke McCanna have been leading the team this season, according to Faulkner.

“They do a great job [as captains],” Faulkner said. “They get practice started and are leaders during the practice. They are all hard working guys, and they do a good job.”

Sellitto, who was second-team All-State in singles last year, and Levin, second team All-State doubles, have reunited again this year to play first doubles. When Levin and Sellitto played doubles two years ago they were second team All-State.

Sellitto and Levin have pulled off key wins against Deerfield and GBN, as well as going 6-0 for both sets against Niles North. At the Moline Invite on April 14, the first doubles team beat Moline, which helped in South’s first place victory.

According to Faulkner, all six seniors on the team this year encompass their most valuable asset, along with newcomer junior Konrad Zieba.

Zieba, who played at a USTA tennis academy for one year and was home schooled last year, is playing number one singles. He is currently 11-0 and is second in the state for the class of 2013.

Overall, Zieba believes that playing academy tennis was a good experience.

“It was tough and a lot of hard work, but I got to play with some of the best players in the country, train with the best coaches in the world and travel to many places around the world,” Zieba said.

Zieba is able to bring to the court not only his experience of playing tennis for more than 10 years, but his strong serve as well.

“I’ve been working on [my serve] this past summer trying to make it more aggressive and precise to help me set up my forehand which is probably one of my stronger shots,” Zieba said.

Despite the fact it is Zieba’s first year on the team, he would still like to win state with the team.

“Apparently New Trier is the school to beat, and we have a pretty deep team this year so we will see how it goes,” Zieba said.

Another key player this year is sophomore Sam Hoogland, who was third-team All-State in singles last year and is playing second singles for theTitans this year.

Against GBN, Hoogland went 6-2 and 6-0. During the Moline Invite Hoogland went to the finals for singles, where he competed against teammate Zieba, who was the singles champ.

As the season is still underway, Faulkner believes that finding a pair to play second doubles is key for a successful season.

“I think we will win the sectional this year if we play well, play up to our potential, [and] especially if we find a good second doubles team,” Faulkner said. “I have six guys trying to fit that spot, we’re rotating in practice right now and we will see how it works out.”

McCanna has rotated playing second doubles with juniors Will Lyon and Ross Gan. Against Deerfield, McCanna and Lyon went 6-0 and 6-1, which helped pull out a 4-3 win for the Titans. When McCanna and Gan were paired together against Niles North, they ended 6-2 and 6-1, which resulted in a 7-0 win for South.

During the Moline Invite McCanna and senior Merrick Topping were able to place first in doubles after beating Belleville East.

According to Faulkner, key teams to beat this year are Glenbrook North, New Trier, Stevenson, Deerfield, Highland Park and Lake Forest.

To beat teams like this, Faulkner believes the team needs to play great tennis and take advantage of all the hard work they put in the off-season.

“I don’t look at wins and losses,” Faulkner said. “I look at individual player improvement as being the most important thing we can do for our players and if we improve the winning will take care of itself.”

The Titans take on the New Trier Trevians at home May 1, where they hope to continue their winning streak.